Nine cards flopped to determine the RGPS Lake Erie Main Event champion

Michael Barlow won the RGPS Gold Road Trip to Ohio $600 Main Event, taking home $29,318 and an RGPS ring. After the prize money was split among three players, he defeated Antonio Ndoja with a nine-card flop to win the ring.

The inaugural RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Lake Erie Poker Room title battle has begun, with the remaining 37 players gathering at the tables to compete for the $40,875 jackpot and ring. This is the championship day of the RGPS Gold Expedition to Ohio $600 Main Event.

A total of 360 players participated, creating a prize pool of $200,000, with Michael Barlow ultimately winning the championship.

RGPS Ohio $600 Main Event Final Table Prize Money

* Indicates a tripartite agreement

With three players remaining at the final table, Barlow reached a deal with Antonio Ndoja and David Hanna to split the prize money, thus winning the RGPS Main Event.

“I don’t usually like splitting the winnings,” Barlow said. “I had the fewest chips, and they were giving me the average amount. It wouldn’t have been financially worthwhile to refuse the deal.”

Barlow persuades Ndoja and Hanna to flip cards for the ring. Only Ndoja chooses to try and win the flop. Barlow and Ndoja are each dealt nine cards and must use them with the five community cards to form the best hand. Barlow wins the flop and also wins the ring.

This is Barlow's second RunGood championship. His first championship was in 2024 when he won the RGPS Resort Ohio team race with his brother Matthew.

Ndoja lost on the flop, but told PokerNews that after his stack tightened, he started to consider the possibility of splitting the prize money.

"I didn't want to leave $10,000 to luck. He (Barlow) won a big flop. We were evenly matched at first, but my advantage gradually disappeared. I decided to accept."

Ndoja shared that this might be his last time taking a winnings share, and he plans to continue honing his skills to become a threat at the poker table in the near future.

“There will be no more prize money from now on,” Ndoja said. “I’m a newbie, and I hope to continue honing my skills and become a threat within the next two years.”

Final Table Action

Ndoja, Barlow, and Hanna entered the final table as the top three chip leaders. Ndoja started strong, eliminating James Garr (ninth), Nicholas Lanzi (eighth), and Jonathan Tackett (seventh) at the beginning of the final table.

Joel Brink was the next to be eliminated, finishing in sixth place when Barlow and Hanna checked their cards and Hanna revealed her winning hand.

Hanna made another move, eliminating Patrick Beatrez in fifth place, followed by Joffrey Gaetz being eliminated in fourth place.

When Ndoja, Barlow, and Hanna became the final three, discussions about splitting the prize money officially began, but the three initially struggled to reach an agreement. Ultimately, they agreed to split the prize money equally.

Barlow and Ndoja had a crazy flop, each with nine cards plus five community cards. Barlow won the RGPS ring with a higher full house (ten with an Ace) and beat Ndoja's ten with a Jack.

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